India is set to face New Zealand in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup. The average first-innings score at the Wankhede Stadium for the ICC World Cup 2023 is 357. Champions in the 1983 and 2011 editions of the World Cup and the host team, are poised to face Kane Williamson and his team in the first semi-final of the ICC event at the Wankhede Stadium.
Rohit Sharma Take on Importance of Toss in ICC World Cup 2023 Semi Final
Rohit Sharma conveyed to reporters that he, as the captain of India, prefers not to dwell extensively on the toss in the lead-up to the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final clash against New Zealand scheduled for Tuesday.
ALSO READ | ICC Men’s World Cup 2023| IND vs NZ : India’s holy trio enjoys their rare reunion against NZ
What happened in 2019 World Cup Semi Final
In the 2019 World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, New Zealand, two-time runners-up, outperformed India. The Wankhede Stadium, renowned for high-scoring matches, witnessed a spectacular start to the ICC World Cup 2023 as South Africa posted a formidable total of 399-7 in the opening match. Despite being considered a good chasing ground, teams faced challenges in surpassing the first innings totals during the round-robin stage of the World Cup at the Wankhede.
How significant can the toss be at the Wankhede Stadium?
Except for Afghanistan against Australia, all teams have managed to successfully defend their totals at Wankhede in the ICC World Cup 2023. During a memorable match against Afghanistan, Australia, while batting second at the renowned venue, secured a remarkable victory, propelled by Glenn Maxwell’s record-breaking double century. Throughout the round-robin phase, the average first-innings score at Wankhede stands at 357. Interestingly, the average score for teams batting second at the Wankhede is 188 for 9.
Should India win the toss?
The average score during the powerplay when batting first is 52 for 1, whereas when chasing, it drops to 42 for 4 in the second innings. Consequently, if Captain Rohit wins the toss, it is anticipated that Team India will opt to bat first. The formidable pace-bowling attack of New Zealand will pose a challenge to the assertive batting style of Indian openers Rohit and Shubman Gill at the Wankhede. Captain Rohit has accumulated an impressive 503 runs, while his partner-in-crime Gill has a commendable total of 270, despite missing a few World Cup games.
In the event of India losing the toss, what would be the scenario?
Former India captain Virat Kohli, the top run-scorer at the World Cup, delivered a splendid innings of 95, securing a notable victory for India against New Zealand during the round-robin phase. The 35-year-old has amassed an impressive total of 594 runs in 9 games at the World Cup. In the event that the hosts don’t win the toss, Rohit Sharma and the team will heavily depend on India’s world-class bowling attack to limit New Zealand to a below-par total.
In the recent World Cup match at Dharamsala, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami showcased his skill by taking a five-wicket haul, contributing to India dismissing New Zealand for 273. Jasprit Bumrah, another key bowler for India, leads the wicket-taking tally with 17 wickets at the 2023 World Cup. Shami closely follows with 16 scalps to his name in the ICC event in India. Ravindra Jadeja, who has also taken 16 wickets in the tournament, is yet to add to his wicket count against the Black Caps in the 2023 edition.
;
Pingback: Virat Kohli Hits 50th ODI Century, Breaking Sachin's Long Standing Record